Travel Seamlessly, Travel Safely

By Agrima Chopra

After planning for weeks, deciding the intricacies of your travels, weighing the pros and cons and booking your flights and accommodation, you expect everything to go smoothly. 

However, monitoring everything down to the littlest detail still leaves out one of the most important aspects to consider – Safety.  

Travelling is a wonderful experience and the world is a wonderful place. However, it is also populated by individuals that are not the nicest. People who could pose a threat to your travel and your overall experience. Thus to ensure that your journey goes seamlessly, prepping yourself with safety tips and tricks is of high importance.

Travel security is mostly all about vigilance. Arming yourself with knowledge and experiencing the world around you with awareness. 

Travelling has much to offer to the person partaking in it but it also has downsides, safety being one of them. Coupled with being in a foreign country and theft and crime being present, travel security becomes absolutely important. 

Time and again there have been instances in the past relating to travel safety. Journaling across continents and countries is not easy and vigilance is key. There have been numerous times in the past where the need for travel security has been felt.

For example: 

1. Crime: Crime is rampant when it comes to foreigners. Being in an unfamiliar destination places you in a vulnerable position sometimes with limited knowledge about the way, the language and the people. Thus, the possibility of crime arises. Travellers can become victims of robbery, pick-pocketing or theft or even of violent crimes that can occur anywhere including public transportation like buses or crowded tourist areas.  

2. Natural Disasters: Natural Disasters pose a severe threat to travellers. Disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, floods etc can result in tourists being injured or stranded. 

3. Health concerns: Exposing yourself to newer cultures and food can result in illnesses such as food poisoning, diarrhoea and other such infections. Falling Ill becomes a huge possibility. 

4. Terrorism: Although out of control, terrorist acts can occur anywhere. If travellers are perhaps at the targeted location, it can result in serious injury. Through careful observation, extreme damage can be avoided. Avoid choosing politically unstable countries for your vacation. 

5. Scams and fraud: Travellers may be targeted by scammers and fraudsters through fake booking websites, phishing scams where they might ask you for your personal information, getting involved with fraudulent tour operators or even being victim to fake accommodation. 

6. Cultural misunderstandings: Travellers may unintentionally displease or offend the sentiments of locals by violating cultural norms that they might not be aware of. This can lead to the birth of animosity between the tourists in the locals resulting in potential misunderstandings and safety issues.  

All of these potential concerns are why travel security is of high importance to travel safely. Being knowledgeable about your destination, taking steps to be present at the moment and being vigilant can lead to a lot of good and a seamless travel experience. 

So what are some of the crucial tips you can follow to practise travel security? 

Travel Safely before you leave

1. Research – Make sure that you’ve researched the destination you’re visiting and that you’ve done it thoroughly. Knowing the locality around your accommodation, local culture, customs and practices, food-related information and general knowledge about the history and current political conditions can help you identify troublesome points. 

2. Keep your documents safe but handy – Ensure that the original copies of your documents are safely tucked away in the hotel room or your bag. Only carry duplicate copies whilst out and about and be wary of the pick-pocketers. 

3. Know the emergency contacts – Look up the nearest embassy of your destination country and keep local emergency contacts handy even before you get to the location. Make sure it is easily accessible. 

Travel Safely while Vacationing 

1. Try to Drink Responsibly – Enjoying the nightlife is a prerequisite of vacationing. It is understood that you’ll be involving yourself in experiences like partying, going out and making mistakes. However, being in an unknown city or destination requires you to perhaps cut down. You need to be aware and in your senses, should know the way to your hotel and you should pay attention to your surroundings. 

2. Stay alert- Awareness is key while travelling. Whether it be travelling in a group, as a couple or as an individual, being alert could prevent a lot of mishaps from occurring. Practise staying vigilant in public transport, in areas of high crime and large crowds and try not to stay isolated for too long. You might notice things a lot quicker and move out of situations that look like red flags.

3. Bring along travel locks – With the advancement of technology, innovations like travel locks have sprung into existence. These are highly handy locks that provide double the security when attached to your accommodation. In case you’re backpacking, they can also contribute greatly to providing privacy and create makeshift safes or locked rooms making it an absolute essential for female travellers. 

4. Try to Blend In – Become a part of the community you’re visiting for your travels. When you look like the citizens of your destination, it’s difficult for crime to seep in. Try to Blend in with the locals. Dress like them, speak their language, eat where they eat and be sure to follow their advice throughout your journey. 

5. Keep your valuables secure – Avoid carrying high-value items like jewellery, watches or a lot of cash when you’re out and about. Keep them locked away in your safe at the hotel and try not to wear a lot of flashy jewellery outside or anything that might draw unnecessary amounts of attention to you. This increases your propensity to get pick-pocketed or targeted. 

6. Check in with your loved ones – Always keep your loved ones informed of your location at all times. Keep telling them about your plans and your future steps in your chosen destinations. This ensures communication and keeps at least someone in the loop in case of a mishap. 

7. Follow local culture – To avoid animosity, danger or uncomfortable situations, be aware of the local customs and cultures of the region and consciously try to follow them. This makes you both a part of the community temporarily and avoids interactions that are awkward or unintentionally hurt sentiments. Understanding the local culture is a prerequisite to visiting a destination, it helps you gain knowledge and reflect respect. 

8. Trust your instincts – Lastly, always trust yourself. Learn to have your own back in whatever situation you may be in. Avoid indulging in experiences that make you uncomfortable or feel queasy. Know that there is a reason you aren’t entirely confident about it. Remove yourself from such experiences deliberately and consistently try to go with your gut. 

Travelling is a wonderful experience that can perhaps not be as seamless if you aren’t mindful of your plans and your next steps. Through careful observation, surveillance and awareness, you can avoid a lot of danger. Additionally, always arm yourself with information and language. Your brain is your best friend!